Pages

19 December 2014

This 'n' That

Santa drives a Chevy. It's true. Everything you've heard about the sleigh and the reindeer…false. All one big lie. I saw it with my own two eyes. My bubble was burst. All those years of peering into the sky on Christmas Eve, trying to discern Rudolph's nose from the flashing lights of airplanes…all of those memories dashed to pieces in an instant.

Truly classic. I was just thankful that I was leaving the restaurant that Santa was about to enter. A child's birthday party was about to be held there and I would guess that Santa was the guest of honor. So…I'm thankful for a well-timed escape.

And speaking of Rudolph…here's a little insight into the gullibility of my child self. I used to believe that I needed to look for a white light in the sky, not a red one, when searching for Rudolph. Why? Because Santa's sleigh flew so high above the earth that Rudolph's bright red nose actually appeared white. Yeah. I believed that. Kind of embarrassing to admit, actually.

So yes, we did the Santa thing at my house growing up. My parents didn't know any differently. If you'd ask my mother today, she'd say if she could do it all over again as a true Christian, the Santa mythnever would have been a part of Christmas. It's amazing how good and gracious God is to change our perspectives on the world so drastically once we're saved. What is the point of Santa for the Christian family? Lying is a lot of work, so parents, why bother? Isn't it easier to be honest with your kids, especially since you expect them to be honest with you? Isn't it more precious to share with them the true story of Christmas?

Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, amid the carols and the shopping, the wrapping and the baking, we so easily lose sight of the one Person upon whom our eyes must always be fixed. That is why I love the Christmas season (or try to), in spite of the world's attempts to distort it for its own self-serving purposes. I love pondering the fact that our Savior—indeed, our Lord and King—humbled Himself to take on the form of man so that He might live the life that we cannot, die the death that we deserve, and rise again so that we who are reconciled to God by faith in Him alone might live forever with Him. There is no better story. There is no better reason for celebration. There is no better reason to lift up praise and thanks to our magnificent, loving, holy, forgiving, righteous, triune God.

Okay, let me climb down off of my soapbox so that you can take a few moments in these last days before Christmas to relax with a cup of cocoa and enjoy your week in review (kind of):

Did you know that the movie White Christmas was not the first time Bing Crosby sang that song on film? The song actually was first introduced in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn. Now you know.

Someone asked me this week for a recommendation of a good devotional. While a devotional ought not be a substitute for daily, in-depth Bible study, it can be a good way to focus our minds and hearts on the Word and the Christ who saved us. This is by far one of my favorite devotionals.

1 comment:

I always enjoy your blogs and humor, and of course, sarcasm, makes me feel at home. lolI just watch Holiday Inn last night, thought it was cute. I just love to that that tap dancing. I may rent White Christmas next, cant remember ever seeing that one either. Jamie

Please keep it pithy (in other words, if your comment is long enough to be its own blog post, don't bother), pertinent (please don't go off-topic), and respectful (to the author, to the other readers, and to the subject of the post). If you can't do that, your comment will not be posted.

If you haven't already, please read the Comment Policy in its entirety.

Featured Post

The Lord does not promise us a long life. Nor does He promise us a life free from trials. What He does promise His children is a life of ...

Truth is EVERYTHING

Christians today are in a battle, not of weapons, but of truth. Remember the words of the apostle Paul:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

And do not forget the admonition of Jude:

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3)

If you have been blessed by the work of this blog, we would sincerely appreciate any prayerful support. "Do Not Be Surprised..." is not a 501(c)3 organization, and contributions are not tax deductible. Of course, we covet your prayers more than anything else!